We hear it a lot. Volunteers are the lifeblood of nonprofits. And studies indicate that volunteering is a common pastime for lots of Idahoans. According to one study from the Corporation for National and Community Service, Idaho ranked second in the nation in 2013 for the percentage of residents who volunteer in their communities.

We want to hear from those of you in the Treasure Valley who volunteer for local nonprofits. We want to know how organizations made you feel welcome and helped you understand why your efforts mattered. Tell us how you found out about volunteer opportunities and about the kind of work you did. We want to hear the good, but we also want to hear about the times organizations fell short and could have made experiences more meaningful for volunteers.

As an experienced volunteer, what advice would you share with your favorite nonprofit?

Tell us more for possible inclusion in a future story. Email Anna Webb at awebb@idahostatesman.com.

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The group provides mental health care for children regardless of their ability to pay. The society is hosting a school supply drive to help prepare its young clients for the new school year.

Here’s the list of items needed (new items only, please): No. 2 lead pencils (packages of 12 or more); boxes of crayons (24 per box or fewer); white school glue, 8 ouncers or 4 ounces (orange cap recommended); large pink erasers; rulers (12 inches with metric scale); spiral or wireless notebooks, 70-100 pages, college and wide-ruled needed; large packages of three-holed college and wide-ruled paper; quality pointed scissors (Fiskar-type recommended); boxes of colored pencils; red pens or pencils for correcting; folders with pockets; water-based felt markers. And note, pencil cases, backpacks and other fun and colorful items to “jazz up the school year” are also welcome.

Drop items at the Boise location, 740 E. Warm Springs Ave. (enter through east entrance and come to the second floor), or at either Meridian location, 1833 S. Milennium Way or 3023 E. Copper Point Drive.

Call Judi Williams at 343-7813 for more information.

Urgent: Idaho blood donors needed

We recently got a call from the American Red Cross and learned that hospitals across Idaho are in urgent need of donated blood. Donations typically slow down in the summer when people are on vacation.

Hospitals need all types of blood, but in particular, O negative, A negative and B negative. O negative, found in just 7 percent of the population, is “universal,” meaning it can be transfused into almost any patient in need.

Call 1-800-RED-CROSS to make your appointment to give and get more information.

• Community Center Block Party: All Boise residents are invited to attend a community event at the Whitney Community Center, 1609 Owyhee St., from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 3. The party will include live music, raffles, a barbecue, art activities, community garden harvest, and games coordinated by the Boise Parks and Recreation Mobile Recreation program. The free event is sponsored by the city of Boise, Vista Neighborhood Association, Boise Police Department, Whitney Elementary School, local churches, civic clubs and neighbors. The community centers are operated in partnership with the Boise School District at local elementary schools.

• Library! Neighborhood Program

The Boise Public Library will host a series of neighborhood events at branches in the city. Events will feature food, drinks, games, and entertainment.

• Neighborhood Reinvestment Grant program: Have a great idea to enhance your neighborhood? Share them with your neighborhood association and consider applying for the city of Boise’s NRG program. Information for this year’s application process will be available later in August. Visit the city’s Neighborhood Reinvestment grant

The city of Meridian hosts a grand opening celebration for its first dedicated off-leash dog park, Storey Bark Park, on Wednesday, Aug. 12, from 4 to 6 p.m., 430 E. Watertower Lane. The event will include an official leash-cutting ceremony at 4:30 p.m. Attendees (who are welcome to bring their well-behaved dogs), will also enjoy information booths and displays, live music, dog-themed door prizes, and doggy goody bags while supplies last.

Storey Bark Park, located behind Meridian’s Storey Park, is a large fully fenced dog park. It features a safe leashing/unleashing area, separate large dog and small dog areas, shade shelters, a restroom building, people and doggy drinking fountains, paved walkways, a variety of ground coverings, benches, mutt mitt stations, landscaping, a new paved parking area, dog-themed street signs, and a pair of fire hydrants. Both the small dog area and large dog area feature a number of agility items donated to the dog park by Intermountain Pet Hospital & Lodge.

Storey Bark Park will be open daily from sunrise to sunset, and admission is free. People and pets who visit the dog park will be expected to adhere to a set of posted rules.

Idaho Humanities Council invites applications for grants and research fellowships

The council invites proposals for Mini and Major grants, Teacher Incentive Grants, and Research Fellowships from organizations and individuals for consideration for its fall grant round. The deadline for grant proposals is Sept. 15. The council urges prospective applicants to contact IHC staff in advance of the deadline to discuss their project ideas before drafting a proposal.

Teacher Incentive Grants are limited to $1,000, and are awarded to K-12 teachers to enhance the way they teach the humanities in the classroom. Research Fellowships are special awards to scholars to support research in any field of the humanities. They are for up to $3,500, awarded only once a year, and may be used to support expenses related to research, including travel to special archives, lodging, and related expenses. They are competitive and IHC awards up to four Research Fellowships each fall.

Mini Grants (under $2,000) and Major Grants (over $2,000) over the years have supported museum and library exhibits, oral history projects, heritage tourism projects, literary events, special lectures, the preservation of historical photo archives, Chautauqua programs, communitywide reading programs, humanities-focused conferences, and a variety of projects and programs that inspire community dialogue in the humanities.

For more information, call 345-5346 (outside the Boise area call toll-free 888-345-5346) or visit idahohumanities.org.

Openings available for the Wyakin Warrior Class of 2015

Wyakin Warriors, the nonprofit program that provides room, board, college tuition, mentorship and other support for wounded service members, is still accepting applications for the Wyakin Warrior Class of 2015.

The program is available to severely wounded, ill or injured veterans who were hurt on or after Sept. 11, 2001. Purple Heart Medal recipients are eligible to apply. The selection panel does not base eligibility on academic standing or background, but rather on character, motivation, need, and readiness.

Get an application online at wyakin.org or call 888-992-5469 (888-WyakinW).

The free program is part of an ongoing series of presentations about Alzheimer’s disease that will continue monthly through November at locations throughout the Treasure Valley. Organizers are requesting that attendees RSVP by calling 405-9068 or emailing Christine Bubb at cbubb@alz.org.